Globally admired business magnate Ratan Tata dies at 86

Ratan Tata, one of India’s most powerful and globally admired businessman, who drove India to greater prosperity and development and transformed his family’s business conglomerate — the Tata Group into a multinational corporation with globally recognizable brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover vehicles and Tetley teas, died on Oct 9 at south Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital.

He was 86. The Tata Group announced his death in a statement that did not specify the cause of death. He was being treated in a critical care unit of a hospital owing to age-related issues, and to control his blood pressure.

On Oct 10 morning, his body was taken from his house in a hearse, decked with white flowers, to the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai where it would be kept for people to pay their last respects.

Tributes poured in from across the country, following his death. Politicians, sportsmen, business leaders, actors, and others paid rich tributes to the iconic businessman describing him as a visionary business leader and a great human being India has seen in contemporary times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death, calling him a “visionary business leader, compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being”.

“Shri Ratan Tata Ji provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses,” PM Modi said on X, adding that Tata’s influence extended far beyond the corporate world.

“He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness, and unwavering commitment to improving our society,” Modi added. A highly respected business icon, Tata received the Padma Vibhushan in 2008 — India’s second highest civilian honor — following the Padma Bhushan in 2000. His contributions to education, medicine, and rural development have impacted lives.

In a statement, N. Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons Chairman, expressed grief and condolences to his loved ones. “On behalf of the entire Tata family, I extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we work to uphold the values he so passionately championed," Chandrasekaran said.

India would miss him very dearly, said Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar on his demise.

“Deeply pained by the passing away of Shri Ratan Tata Ji- a towering figure of Indian industry, whose contributions towards building a self-reliant Bharat will forever be an inspiration to entrepreneurs in India and beyond,” Dhankar posted on X.

He said, “A man of deep commitment and compassion, his philanthropic contributions and the humility he embodied aptly reflect the ethos he embraced. As ‘the legend’ of Indian industry leaves behind a lasting legacy, Bharat would miss him very dearly.”
Home Minister Amit Shah said he was deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary industrialist and true nationalist.

He selflessly dedicated his life to the development of our nation. Every time I met him, his zeal and commitment to improving Bharat and its people amazed me. His commitment to the welfare of our country and its people led to the blooming of millions of dreams. Time cannot take away Ratan Tata Ji from his beloved nation. He will live on in our hearts. My condolences to Tata Group and his countless admirers. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” Shah posted on X.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state lost one of its biggest well-wishers.

“Tata, a recipient of Assam’s highest civilian award, ‘Asom Baibhav’, occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of the people of the State,” he said on X. “Tata also played an instrumental role in setting up the semiconductor facility in Jagiroad and creating employment opportunities for the State’s youth,” Sarma added.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed sadness over his death, saying that in his passing away "we have lost an invaluable son of India".

"A philanthropist par excellence whose commitment to India's inclusive growth and development remained paramount, Shri Tata was synonymous with unequivocal integrity and ethical leadership," Kharge posted on X.

Google and Alphabet Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sunder Pichai in his condolence message said Tata leaves behind him an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy.

“My last meeting with Ratan Tata at Google, we talked about the progress of Waymo, and his vision was inspiring to hear. He leaves an extraordinary business and philanthropic legacy and was instrumental in mentoring and developing modern business leadership in India. He deeply cared about making India better. Deep condolences to his loved ones and Rest in Peace Shri Pichai wrote on X.

Indian-Americans mourned the death of the veteran industrialist and philanthropist remembering him as someone who drove India to greater prosperity and development.

Atul Keshap, the president of the US-India Business Council (USIBC) was quoted as saying by PTI.

“The Padma Vibhushan recipient was a "unique and noble son of India, a role model for the nobility and generosity. Ratan Tata reminded a global audience of the nobility of commerce even as he drove his companies and India to greater prosperity and development. He espoused values of humanity and compassion not only for his colleagues and business partners but also for the greater good, Keshap said.

Mukesh Aghi, the President and CEO of the United States India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), said that Tata is an iconic brand name today because it was led by an iconic visionary like Tata.

“He lived a life full of courage, and conviction and adopted a convivial joie-de-vivre outlook. He was a pillar of integrity even when there was once a time when people were reading negative articles about the culture of business and politics in India," Aghi said in a statement.

During his tenure spanning over two decades as chairman and chief executive effective 1991, the Tata Group’s profits multiplied 50 times, with most revenues coming from sales abroad. Despite the conglomerate’s international outreach, its impact in India remained greater than ever under Tata’s leadership.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the death of Tata, terming it an irreparable loss for Indian business and society. “Former Tata Group chairman was a foremost leader of Indian industry and a public-spirited philanthropist. His demise will be an irreparable loss for the Indian business world and society,” she posted on X.

Several cricketers also expressed their sorrow, recognizing Tata as a stalwart who significantly contributed to the growth of the country. Shikhar Dhawan, Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Indian Premier League franchise Punjab Kings, and many others expressed their condolences on social media.

“We have lost a true Ratan of Bharat, Shri Ratan Tata ji. His life will be an inspiration for us all and he will continue to live in our hearts. Om Shanti,” former India cricketer Virender Sehwag wrote on X.

Irfan Pathan posted on X, “Deeply saddened by the loss of Shri Ratan Tata ji. He wasn’t just a business leader, but a true inspiration for millions. His dedication, integrity, and impact on India’s growth are unmatched. We’ve lost a giant, but his legacy will endure forever. Rest in peace.”

Notably, for middle-class Indians, it was nearly impossible to get through the day without buying Tata goods and services. They would start their day with Tata tea, surf the internet with Tata Photon, watch Tata Sky programs on television, travel in Tata taxis or drive their own Tata cars, and use uncounted products made with Tata steel.

In the 2010s, other family-led business groups overtook the Tata Group in revenues and valuation. But none of the new businessmen enjoyed the public esteem of Ratan Tata, who was renowned for disbursing a majority of his wealth to philanthropy and for his investments in startup businesses by young, underfinanced entrepreneurs.

The unusual ownership structure of the Tata Group added to Mr Ratan Tata’s allure. The parent company, Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd., held the majority shares and was itself two-thirds-owned by philanthropic trusts endowed by Tata family members.

A shy loner

A down-to-earth person, Tata preferred to stay out of the limelight and projected a public image of a shy loner, a man who never married or had children. He was born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay, now Mumbai, during the British Raj.

His family belonged to the Parsi ethnic community, whose Zoroastrian ancestors fled persecution in Persia centuries ago and found refuge in India.

The Tatas made their fortune in the 19th-century opium trade with China and in textile mills. By the time his father, Naval Tata, rose to become deputy chairman of the family business, the Tata Group was entrenched in scores of manufacturing and commercial enterprises.

Ardent pet lover

Apart from his numerous contributions to the business world, Tata was known for his deep compassion for dogs, evident not only in his public actions but also personal choices.

On social media, he frequently advocated for the welfare of stray dogs, urging people to be sensitive to their needs. He was passionate about finding homes for abandoned pets and ensuring their safety, particularly during the monsoon season, when stray dogs often seek shelter under cars.

“Now that the monsoons are here, a lot of stray cats and dogs take shelter under our cars. It is important to check under our car before we turn it on and accelerate to avoid injuries to stray animals taking shelter. They can be seriously injured, handicapped, and even killed if we are unaware of their presence under our vehicles. It would be heartwarming if we could all offer them temporary shelter when it is pouring this season.” One of his posts read.

He adopted a stray dog named Goa and frequently turned to his Instagram family to help find forever homes for rescued dogs and so forth. Notably, he missed an important meeting with King Charles to stay by the side of his sick dog.

Indian businessman Suhel Seth was quoted as saying in the recent past that he was surprised to receive multiple missed calls from Tata. After at least 11 missed calls, when he finally spoke to him, Tata explained, “Tango and Tito, his dogs, one of them had fallen ill. I can’t leave him and come.”

When Prince Charles heard of this, he praised Tata and expressed admiration for his priorities. Seth recalled King Charles saying, “That’s a man. That’s the man Ratan is. That’s why the house of Tata is what it is. That’s why it’s on a stable course.”